Chaung-U, Sagaing Region, Myanmar — October 8, 2025

At least 40 people were killed and dozens more injured after an aerial attack targeted a religious festival in central Myanmar, officials and witnesses said on Tuesday.

According to local media reports and eyewitness accounts, a paraglider — allegedly operated by Myanmar’s military junta forces — dropped explosive devices on a crowd gathered for the Thadingyut full moon festival, one of the country’s most important Buddhist celebrations. The attack occurred in Chaung-U Township, located in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, an area that has become a center of resistance to military rule.

Eyewitness Accounts

Witnesses said hundreds of people were attending the festival when the bombs were dropped, causing widespread panic and devastation. Videos circulating on social media showed burning stalls, damaged vehicles, and people fleeing in chaos as explosions echoed through the area.

A resident told local reporters, “We were lighting candles and offering prayers when we heard a loud buzzing sound. A few seconds later, explosions went off — people were screaming everywhere.”

Casualties and Response

Local rescue workers confirmed that at least 40 people, including women and children, died in the attack, with many others sustaining severe injuries. Emergency volunteers rushed victims to nearby clinics, though medical care in the region remains limited due to ongoing conflict.

The National Unity Government (NUG) — the shadow administration opposing the junta — condemned the strike, calling it “a deliberate act of terror against innocent civilians celebrating a religious holiday.”

The ruling military council has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.

Background

The Sagaing Region has seen some of the deadliest clashes since Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup in February 2021, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Resistance groups have gained control of several towns and rural areas, and the junta has increasingly relied on airstrikes to suppress opposition.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused the military of targeting civilians with air and drone attacks. The United Nations has called for stronger international action to stop the violence, labeling the junta’s actions as potential war crimes.

Aftermath

Images from the aftermath of Tuesday’s bombing show smoldering debris and festival decorations scattered among bodies. Volunteers continued to search for survivors late into the night.

As Myanmar marks the Thadingyut festival — a time traditionally meant for family reunions and paying respect to elders — many citizens are instead mourning another tragic loss in the country’s prolonged conflict.